GULLS AND DIVERS 73 



and some do not put themselves to the trouble of 

 seeking for them, they readily take any stranded 

 or floating material. Although this omnivorous 

 habit of theirs has its uses, one cannot help feeling 

 sorry that birds, of which better things might have 

 been expected, should act as scavengers. 



The blackbacks are noted offenders. It is quite 

 common to see " the lesser " feeding along with the 

 carrion-crow ; and even " the greater " will stoop to 

 a stranded, and not over savoury fish. 



Really, they are not so very much to blame, seeing 

 that they cannot very well help themselves. Not 

 being able to dive, they are forced to take what- 

 ever comes within their reach. The surface of the 

 sea is proverbially barren. And as its inhabitants 

 do not as a rule, come ashore of their own free will, 

 and alive, but only when they are washed up, the 

 gulls are forced to take them as they find them. 



For such fresh fish diet as comes their way, the 

 gulls are dependent on any fry that may be scared 

 to the surface. There are times when the barren 

 sea is fertile and springing with life. When the 

 herring sile comes inshore, nothing can be more 

 interesting than the attendance of sea birds. 



The scene is animated in the extreme, and 

 illustrates, in a dramatic way, the functions and 



